Boosted's upgraded electric skateboards double down on range

Boosted Boards has won a lot of fans since it built what was claimed to be the world's lightest electric vehicle in 2013. It may have since been overtaken in the weight stakes, but it is lifting its game in other areas to try and stay ahead of the curve. Its freshly announced second generation of electric skateboards address a major shortcoming in its first bite of the cherry with the ability to travel twice as far on each charge.

The 2nd Generation Boosted Board lineup is based on the same Bamboo deck as the originals, along with the company's signature bright orange street wheels that have been beefed up from 75 to 80 mm (2.95 to 3.15 in).

The first-gen boards had a useful, but relatively modest range of 6 mi per charge (9.65 km). While that might be plenty of battery life for a scoot around campus or a quick trip to the store, it did leave Boosted's Boards some way behind its competitors. Other models like the Marbel Board and Yuneec's E-Go Cruiser will travel 10 mi (16 km) and 18 mi (30 km), respectively, while the powerful Evolve Carbon GT we reviewed earlier this month is well out ahead with a monster range of 31 mi (50 km).

The upgrade to Boosted Boards won't afford riders this kind of freedom, but will give them much more room to roam. They will ship with a standard 99 Wh battery for a 7 mi (11.2 km) range, but these can now be swapped out for a slightly bulkier 199 Wh battery for an increase to a 12 to 14 mi range (19 to 22 km). This will cost an extra US$100 on top of the board itself.

Among the other refinements are a new radio for more reliable connectivity with the Bluetooth controller, custom-built trucks and electronics that are now encased for water-resistance.

The new Boosted Board is available for preorder as a 1,000 W single-motor version for US$999, or as dual-motor rides at $1,299 and $1,499 for those wanting a bit more bite. These come with either 1,500 W or 2,000 W of power, which offer a slight bump in top speed from 18 mph (29 km/h) to 20 mph (32 km/h) or 22 mph (35 km/h), respectively. But there's a serious bump in the gradient of hill you'll be able to tackle, rated at 20 and 25 percent compared to 10 percent on the 1,000-W model. All weigh between 13 and 16 lb (5.9 and 7.25 kg) and are still among the lightest electric skateboards you can buy.